National Trust backing for developer's dream for Grange lido (From The Westmorland Gazette)

National Trust backing for developer's dream for Grange lido

12:24pm Monday 18th April 2011 in News

THE National Trust is backing a developer’s dream to restore a 79-year-old South Lakeland lido.

Former Kendal man Phil Bradby wants to bring the Grange-over-Sands lido back to life but South Lakeland District Council said his interest had come too late.

The authority has already agreed a development deal with Berners Vision Partnership, which plans to fill in the open air pool and turn it into an ornamental garden.

However, Mr Bradby, whose company Mango Homes specialises in heritage projects, insisted the lido was still ‘in surprisingly good shape’ and ‘deserved to be saved’. He has now formed a Save Grange Lido group.

His plan to save the lido has received a boost from National Trust marketing consultant Jane Watson, who said the charity would support restoration proposals.

“Grange Lido remains one of only five seaside lidos in Britain, and the only one surviving in the North of England following the demolition and infilling of ones at Morecambe, Blackpool and Scarborough,” said Ms Watson.

“It is an integral part of Grange promenade and a key building in the townscape which so many people enjoy.

“Nationally, lidos are becoming recognised as important pieces of heritage in their own right and some have been listed to protect them.

“At a time when the Lake District is looking for World Heritage status, the destruction of any historic building should be viewed very carefully in the context of the area’s heritage.

“Although the trust has no land holdings in Grange, we would support proposals to consider the lido being restored, exploring all other options before in-fill, especially if it were available for public access.”

Mr Bradby said: “We are delighted to have the support of an organisation as important as the National Trust. We very much hope it will encourage people to join the campaign to save the lido and perhaps SLDC and Jonathan Denby (of Berners Vision Partnership) will now reassess their plans to fill in the lido.”

Jane Kendall, SLDC’s development manager, said: “We are 80 per cent of the way through a complex process to secure the future of the Berners area. When this went out to public consultation, there was overwhelming support for the BVP proposal, which we are still trying to deliver.”

The BVP scheme involves the construction of a health centre, care home, apartments, affordable housing and a leisure centre.The lido’s buildings would be converted into craft workshops as part of the development.